How To: Generate Superb Heightmaps :)

BBoy Symm · Post by **BBoy Symm** » 01 Mar 2007 20:35

Really nice guide! I should really try that once, although I think I prefer the maps generated by the game.

RMJ · Post by **RMJ** » 01 Mar 2007 22:49

Right, by default the DEM files we downloaded are way too detailed to be of use, so we need to 'thin' them. To do this, select File->Save DEM->Thin DEM (Decimate). Select a Thin Factor of 3. Then click File->Save DEM->ASCII Arc Grid. Save the file under a new name in the same location as the maps (S_22_09_Thin.asc) is a good suggestion, basically just add '_thin' to the filename.

Something wrong with youre guide, som such thing called "File->Save DEM->Thin DEM (Decimate)."

rup1776 · Post by **rup1776** » 04 Mar 2007 11:48

I'm having the same problem as RMJ, Ive downloaded all the ASC files from google earth, and can open them in MICRODEM, however when i come to save them there is no such option as : File --> Save DEM --> Thin DEM (Decimate)

Had a look in the help file, and it confirms there should be an option as above.

Anyone have any ideas ?

Thanks

Rup

2rB · Post by **2rB** » 04 Mar 2007 18:56

Same problem here... Seems like we have a newer version

Would be realy nice if someone who have knowledge about this could check it out

thebrightside · Post by **thebrightside** » 06 Mar 2007 15:37

If you can't find it as said above try:
In the menu:
Raster Gis--> Thin DEM (Decimate)

rup1776 · Post by **rup1776** » 06 Mar 2007 18:25

that worked perfectly, thanks

opopanax666 · Post by **opopanax666** » 20 Mar 2007 21:13

Right, the "thin" thingy works, but in version 10 the "in-out" can't be clicked, and I haven't found the "Data Manipulation" thingy in the menus...

Somebody?

Ominus · Post by **Ominus** » 27 Mar 2007 18:22

hi! I'm new to the forums but have been playing Open TTD for a week now.
i have something that might be usefull for height maps it may have been posted in another topic but i just went and discovered for myself.

there are 15 heights in OTTD each has a specific grey color for each height,
i went and found the color values for these, here they are:

Code: Select all

LVL     R     G    B
 1      30  ||30 ||30
 2      40  ||40 ||40
 3      50  ||50 ||50
 4      70  ||70 ||70
 5      90  ||90 ||90
 6      110 ||110||110
 7      120 ||120||120
 8      140 ||140||140
 9      150 ||150||150
10      170 ||170||170
11      190 ||190||190
12      200 ||200||200
13      220 ||220||220
14      230 ||230||230
15      250 ||250||250

(i put it in code so it's nicely aligned)
Now to tell you how to use these in microdem
it's a bit annoying though since i haven't found a way to add my own custom height palette.

When you are in the Elevation map options window (where you change the elevation coloring) choose Automatic chloropleth palette, its at the bottom.
then from the list find "Green to Magenta, 16 steps" and click the define button, you should leave the MAX and MIN list alone since it adapts to the dem file. Now you should enter the values from top to bottom, the highest color being the lowest height. Since the palette has 16 steps you just enter the same value in the 16th step as you did for the 15th step.

So far i have only tried this on islands and it works quite well, it shouldn't be a problem for mainland areas though.

If you have any questions about this feel free to ask and i'll try to answer them

Xo · Post by Xo » 04 Apr 2007 21:30

christ i wasnt aware of openTTD before 3 days ago i didt know u could do this

i mean this is awsum!

adriantr · Post by **adriantr** » 11 Apr 2007 11:55

Great tutorial. Managed to create a pretty decent heightmap of most of England and Wales. This has a resolution of 2048x2048. I have 4 versions in this zip file. One or two of these versions sinks East Anglia into the sea when used in OpenTTD so be careful! I intended to create an accurate map for the whole of this region but I just haven't got the time. If anyone does make a map out of this please let me know.

Double P · Post by **Double P** » 11 Apr 2007 13:10

Does anybody know how to add rivers to the heightmap?
I'm currently working on a north Serbia (Vojvodina) map (2048x2048) and managed to draw the main rivers by myself (in Corel Paint Shop Pro Photo XI), but there are so many canals and side rivers that it is impossible to do all that manually

Is there a way of adding or importing rivers to the heigthmap in Corel Paint Shop or in Microdem?

Russell · Post by **Russell** » 20 Apr 2007 22:18

I have been trying to download the microdem program for a few days now and I simply cannot access their webtsite. Can anyone give me a mirror or the actual program? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Russell

Double P · Post by **Double P** » 21 Apr 2007 00:43

Try this:
http://www.usna.edu/Users/oceano/pguth/ ... emdown.htm

AntBUK · Post by **AntBUK** » 02 May 2007 13:00

Seeing as somebody worked out the various greys and height in game thing, would it not be possible to just have a greyscale PNG image working as a map? something like Railroad Tycoon II does?

I don't know easy that would be to code in to the game (maybe part of the scenario edit) but it'd be easier in the long run I think.

On a side note, has anyone done a height map for Yorkshire and the Pennines?

DaleStan · Post by **DaleStan** » 02 May 2007 13:51

Could you how what you're suggesting is different than the current system, please?

AntBUK · Post by **AntBUK** » 03 May 2007 10:47

From what I can work out, your all using various programs ultimately generating a single image, with various encodings.

Instead of going on Google Earth exporting ASC making DEM and TIFF then PNG, just take a screenshot of the terrain, greyscale it, possibly darken it a bit then save it as a PNG. I'll make an example when i get the chance

EDIT: Sorry, every time I've tried it up to now it hasn't worked, an my attempt at the Isle of Man wasn't a completely successful heightmap (see attached)

A bit more Tweaking in PSP might help...

thebrightside · Post by **thebrightside** » 03 May 2007 12:43

You idea doesn't work because aerial photos do not register high elevation as ligther(more white) than low elevation(more black. Not only that but you have to factor in clouds on some pictures, like yours. Also think of shadows created by objects such as towers or hills or the fact that a field is usually lighter than a forest. All these things determine the overal shade of a greyscale picture and none have anything to do with elevation. Dus your technique would create a flawed result no matter how hard you thinker around with it in PSP or other programs of the like.

SHADOW-XIII · Post by **SHADOW-XIII** » 10 May 2007 14:58

You got some heightmaps here: http://www.tt-forums.net/viewtopic.php?p=95269 use them & enjoy the game.

Eisenbaehr · Post by **Eisenbaehr** » 15 May 2007 06:06

opopanax666 wrote:Right, the "thin" thingy works, but in version 10 the "in-out" can't be clicked, and I haven't found the "Data Manipulation" thingy in the menus...

Somebody?

The "Data Manipulation" in the menu is only available if no file is open in MICRODEM. Close MICRODEM completly, start again and you will see

PantyraiderZ · Post by **PantyraiderZ** » 19 May 2007 00:57

Had to register just for this purpose.

So here's my results of the topic this is the heightmap for the island of Puerto Rico and its associated islands (except for Mona)...

The second attachment is the scenario that was created with the heightmap. I created the basic heightmap with the nightly, and edited the scenario under 0.5.2. The cities are placed withing a 95% accuracy, and Mona was added because I accidentally cropped it out (duh...). I left it w/o industries because it would have made the island very desolate w/o vegetation. There's space for 3 intercontinental airports on the three biggest cities, that can earn you some serious $.

-PR

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How To: Generate Superb Heightmaps :)

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